From the desk of Doug Hoffman and M.A.R.C. Supporter NORMI

Dear Senator/Representative

I am writing to you with my concerns regarding HB 5007. Please DO NOT accept HB 5007 without the following revisions:

1) Testing should be required and that testing should be performed as a proctored examination by a nationally recognized, independent and State accepted Training Provider who has been approved by the MRS Board.

2) Training in water, mold, and respiratory protection are crucial to the safe and correct assessment and remediation of mold, protection of the public and workers. The necessary training is in accordance with ANSI and OSHA. American National Standard Institute Approved S500 – Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration American National Standard Institute Approved S520 – Standard and Reference Guide for Mold Remediation Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA – Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134 and 29 CFR 1926.103) OSHA is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation

IAQ BOLG Categories:

Like it or not, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation and the “Green” movement are here to stay. Unfortunately, there are homes where the application has led to reports of nuisance odors and occupant sensitivity. These occupant related complaints have led to a rise in SPF insulation investigations by many who have little understanding of SPF insulation […]

The New Restoration Money GrabI want to be clear that the restoration industry is dedicated to quickly responding to those in need during some of the most difficult times. These trained professionals are on call 24 hours a day and have the equipment and training to restore any property to its pre-loss condition. However, there are those that look at a loss a […]

After the recent hurricanes we have found ourselves faced with the misclassification of rain water from the hurricane as Category 3 water (Cat 3). The classification of water is defined by the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration as either Category 1, 2, or 3.After recent named storms many restoration contractors […]

A Professional Mold Assessment To begin we should define a mold assessment and remind consumers that “All molds are created equal. It is not necessary to determine what type of mold you may have. All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal.” This is according to Center for Disease Control, CDC. Consumers should […]

Many across Florida have been directly impacted by the recent storms that wreaked havoc on our beautiful state.In a recent discussion with Richard "Rick" Morrison, Executive Director, Division of Professions Mold-Related Services Licensing Program regarding the possibility of the Governor waving licensure requirements for mold related services. Ri […]

It has been a wild couple of months, with first Hurricane Harvey then Irma and finally Maria leaving paths of devastation in their wake. Hundreds of IAQA members have been impacted both professionally and personally by the storms. As professionals serving clients suffering wide-ranging damages, we want to responsibly assist them and help them avoid the scamm […]

As our country is once again hit with a devastating storm, IAQA sends our thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and the devastating floods that follow the storm surge. We have many IAQA members in the South Texas area who will be directly impacted by the storm and flood waters. Please know that our prayers are with you and your famil […]

IAQA President John Lapotaire responds to the recent flooding in Louisiana. “Dealing with the aftermath of a disaster, such as the flooding in the Baton Rouge area, is very emotional,” he said.ATLANTA – As you cover the story of the flooding and its aftermath, please note the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) has resources available to mitigate the damag […]

What will be discussed in this white paper presentation is simply our approach to the assessment of a single family residential home in Florida. We will describe the how and the why of our residential IAQ assessments, the basis for our opinions and the equipment used during our assessments. John P. Lapotaire, CIEC Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant I […]

Remember "It's Not Always Mold"An Indoor Air Quality or Indoor Environmental assessment is much more than an inspection for mold and a lot more than the simple collection of a few air samples for mold spores. An Indoor Air Quality assessment must be conducted using a comprehensive whole-house or whole office approach to identify and correct co […]

Leading provider of nuisance odor investigations in Florida and the Orlando area. If you've ever had a nuisance odor issue within your home or office you can appreciate the difficultly in identifying the odors, the sources and possibly even responding to questions from your family or employees. Strange and/or nuisance odors can appear in everything from […]

John P. Lapotaire, CIEC, has been elected as President of the Indoor Air Quality Association, IAQA. Orlando, FL, July 1st, 2016 At the end of their physical year, the Indoor Air Quality Association concluded their Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. During the annual meeting, elections were held for a number of important leadership positions within IAQA. […]

Air Sampling for Mold Spores is NOT a Mold Inspection and NOT an Air Quality SampleMold has become an issue for homeowners and home buyers across the country. Mold inspections have become a part of most real estate transactions. However, here in Florida, a mold inspection has become a bit cliché even passé. Today it’s all about Air Quality. Why call it […]

What is a Mold Assessment?I once again raise this question because I’ve been called in to provide yet another second opinion of a mold inspection that consisted of nothing more than the collection of a few air samples for mold spores. I assure you that a correct mold assessment in accordance with the only industry standard of practice does not involve the r […]

Welcome to the final installment of our four part series on Spray Polyurethane Foam SPF Insulation. So far we’ve discussed the what and how’s involved with the application of spray foam insulation. The articles were written in an effort to raise awareness for both consultants interested in investigating complaints associated with spray foam and for the con […]

Tell us a little bit about your company and the services you offer. Indoor Air Quality Solutions IAQS is a Florida indoor air quality consulting company that provides indoor air quality inspections, mold inspections and testing by Florida licensed mold inspectors and Council Certified Indoor Air Quality Consultants (CIECs). Our inspections take a comprehensi […]

It’s time to reduce your carbon footprint and a great way to begin the process is to re-insulate your home. You’ve been told that it’s a simple process of adding new spray polyurethane foam insulation in the attic. You’ve been told that you can save up to 20% on your next energy bill. You’ve also been told that you’re currently losing as much as 40% of yo […]

Spray Polyurethane Foam SPF insulation is a great way to tighten up your home and save a few of these precious energy dollars. We are seeing more SPF use in new construction than ever before and the retrofit market is a boomin. This article will discuss some of the critical questions all prospective SPF consumers must ask when deciding if Spray Polyurethane […]

Spray Polyurethane Foam SPF Insulation. Spray polyurethane foam SPF insulation, the best thing since sliced bread, the greatest energy saving “Green” insulation available, Right? I can’t remember a building product with such a clearly defined love or hate following. When I say love, it’s typically described by the “Green” movement as I did above, safe, ene […]